The warmness and feeling of protection stayed with me all night. The sun woke up me. I sat up and stretched my arms. "It's morning, Inuyasha… in fact, it's noon." I turned to my right, but there was nobody there.

I called, "Inuyasha? Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" I looked out over the valley to the village below. All of the humans saw me standing on this rock. I stepped back when I remembered. He was gone. I fell to my knees. "Inuyasha's gone…" I put a hand to my heart, "and he took my heart with him. I gave my heart away to you, Inuyasha, and you'll never know that. You couldn't ever understand that."

I walked back to the tribe. They looked at me and I looked back. I nodded, "It's great to be home, but I need some time to myself, without anybody else. At least for today." They all bowed and I proceeded to my cave. I made myself comfortable and shut my eyes. I saw Inuyasha shining in the sun whenever I closed them. I'd open them, but I only saw a little light from outside. I felt a sense of loss that disheartened me. I breathed heavily, knowing that it'd lead to tears. I cried my eyes out all day long, so loud that the village and the adjacent forests could hear me.

When the day started fading away, I stepped out, seeing all of the cubs of the tribe waiting for me. "Are you all right, princess? Why do you cry?" One of them asked me.

"I could explain it to you when you're older… but a half-demon stole my heart. It just hurts… and it will for some time. But if I'm going to be your leader, I'll have to be a fast healer. I'll make sure to protect all of you from any demons or humans that could attack us. I've learned a lot from Inuyasha. Even though he didn't teach me everything, I've learned enough to take care of things here."

They started to come closer to me and I just knelt down on the ground. "Come here, you guys." I laughed and all of the cubs jumped all over me in a group hug. "I love you guys and I got stronger for you. I want you all to grow up to be nice and strong like me and Inuyasha. That way, the tiger demons will be able to make a comeback as a species of demon."

I looked up at the sunset, knowing that everything was going to be fine. My heart may belong to Inuyasha, but as long as my physical heart is still beating, I'll be fine. Perhaps someday, I'll be able to return the favor and do for Inuyasha what he has done for me. I prayed for his safety and that we'd meet again soon as my dream had told me we would.